Page 4 of Whatever He Wants
“Matt, you shouldn’t be in here!”
He ignores me and heads toward the living room.I demand he take off his shoes and he carelessly kicks his slides from his feet.He continues invading Isaac’s territory, touching and fondling things like if they’re his possessions.
I hurriedly collect Matt’s slides and put them by the backdoor.His presence makes me so uncomfortable.I want to be alone and have some peace and quiet for once.Is that so much to ask?It almost feels like a physical violation for him to be here against Isaac’s consent too.
As I return to the living room, Matt heads for the stairs.
“Matt, you can’t go up there!”
“Catch me before I get to the top, then!”
He laughs, bounding up the stairs to the second floor.I race after him, my anger climbing with each step.He’s like a toddler.He loves to ignore the wordnojust so he can do whatever he wants.For example, why we were fighting yesterday.He got fired from his latest job at a coffee shop when we’re up to our eyeballs in debt.For the stupidest reason too: he made off-menu drinks and gave out free samples, even after the manager warned him.
On the second floor, I find Matt in Isaac’s bedroom, gazing around with an envious look on his face.
“Who needs this much shit, anyway?Everything looks so new, like he bought it just ‘cause he could, but he hardly uses it.”He shakes his head.“Man, this world is fucking unfair.Some people get life handed to them, meanwhile, I can barely pay my phone bill.”
“Isaac never got life handed to him.He worked hard for everything he has,” I say.
Not like you, who avoids work altogether, I don’t say.
Matt wanders over to the dresser and I quickly follow him.The first thing that catches the eye is a black wooden watch box with a transparent window and gold latch.Grey velvet lines the interior, and it has ten slots, six of them containing gleaming watches.
With their detailed faces featuring more subdials and knobs than a regular watch, they look like time-travellingdevices instead.It’s obvious at a glance that each one costs a ridiculous amount of money.
When Matt reaches for the box, I slap my hand on it before he can touch it.I even shift my body between him and the dresser.
“No touching any more of Isaac’s stuff,” I say in the firmest voice I can muster.
Surliness tightens his brow and fills his voice.
“I just wanted a closer look.”
“I think you’ve seen enough.It’s time for you to leave.”
He stares me down and I tense, wondering if he’s going to grab the box from behind me anyway.A smirk replaces his scowl.He steps closer and wraps his arms around my waist, leaning his forehead to mine.
“Not before we make some memories on our landlord’s bed.”
“We can’t—”
Matt cuts me off with a kiss, pulling me with him to Isaac’s bed.I twist my face away to protest some more.He turns us and pushes me down onto the bed, then climbs on top of me and kisses me again.
There was a time when his affection consumed me with lust that I never noticed all the little things I find unappealing now.Like the scrape of his unshaven face on my lips and chin.The scent of stale sweat clinging to him from pulling a shirt from the dirty laundry.The way he deepens our kiss by suctioning his lips over mine, then shoves his tongue into my mouth.
As he grinds his erection between my legs, I close my eyes and give in to the kiss anyway.I arch my body to meet his, waiting for the passion to come.Any second now, this moment will feel as enjoyable as it should…
The doorbell rings, its loud chime like a helping hand pulling me from deep water onto a lifeboat.I break the kiss and push Matt off me.
“That must be the delivery,” I say.
I breathe easier when I leave the room and hurry downstairs to answer the door.
4
Isaac
Hard to believeI’mtraining a room of journeymen.It feels like just yesterday I was an apprentice learning the ropes in the electrical field.
